Splendid
I hope this message finds all well. I know that as of last evening there were some that were not. Just to report, it was a most enjoyable evening. We missed those who were not able to attend. We shared dream, smiles, jests, laughter, and a few tears. It was a wonderful way to welcome in the 2010. I hope all that attended share the same memory.
This morning I was up early. I don't know why, but I was. I tossed and turned for a few hours before finally giving up and getting up. I logged on to the computer and tried to catch up on the going ons of the world. As I was doing so my eye caught someones status update. They were thanking someone for something and letting the world know about it. The phrase that caught my eye was "...the gift that keeps on giving..."
What does that mean? Was it a gift certificate that never expired and was perpetually full of funding? How can a gift keep on giving? What happens if the recipient of the gift no longer like the gift, its giving, or the results of it's giving? Would it continue to give? What if the expectations of the gift changed?
This has given me much to think about. I wonder sometimes if there are those in the world who receive the gift, get tired of what it is giving and start expecting more. After all, the world changes, if one was willing to give something in the first place shouldn't they be willing to give more as the world changes? Is that the way it works?
As I was pondering this thought this morning, the phone rang. The person calling wanted to talk doctrine. I shot from the hip and then went back and did some research. The doctrine or topic mentioned in the doctrine and covenants was about the Nicolaitane Band. I did not know about them. It appears that they are a group of people who like the status, the entitlements, the ability to be in the know with certain groups, but they really don't want to live by the standards of that group. Those who want to have their names on the records of the church, but really don't want to live the standards.
Is the church the only group that is abused? Do we do this in the work place? What about groups of friends with whom we associate? Do we do this to our families as well? Do we choose to associate with them only when there is something in it for us? Do we claim to be part of them, when the association promises a gift that keeps on giving?
Take some time to think about it. Where is your heart? Do we do only to be rewarded? Are we in it for the gift or are we truly committed? Would you be willing to associate even if the gift was not appealing to the rest of the world?
Now what are you willing to give in return? My mind will continue to wrap around this thought. I hope it has given you something to think about. Read the 117th section again. Is your heart in the right place? Do we all need to get over our littleness and ourselves?
This morning I was up early. I don't know why, but I was. I tossed and turned for a few hours before finally giving up and getting up. I logged on to the computer and tried to catch up on the going ons of the world. As I was doing so my eye caught someones status update. They were thanking someone for something and letting the world know about it. The phrase that caught my eye was "...the gift that keeps on giving..."
What does that mean? Was it a gift certificate that never expired and was perpetually full of funding? How can a gift keep on giving? What happens if the recipient of the gift no longer like the gift, its giving, or the results of it's giving? Would it continue to give? What if the expectations of the gift changed?
This has given me much to think about. I wonder sometimes if there are those in the world who receive the gift, get tired of what it is giving and start expecting more. After all, the world changes, if one was willing to give something in the first place shouldn't they be willing to give more as the world changes? Is that the way it works?
As I was pondering this thought this morning, the phone rang. The person calling wanted to talk doctrine. I shot from the hip and then went back and did some research. The doctrine or topic mentioned in the doctrine and covenants was about the Nicolaitane Band. I did not know about them. It appears that they are a group of people who like the status, the entitlements, the ability to be in the know with certain groups, but they really don't want to live by the standards of that group. Those who want to have their names on the records of the church, but really don't want to live the standards.
Is the church the only group that is abused? Do we do this in the work place? What about groups of friends with whom we associate? Do we do this to our families as well? Do we choose to associate with them only when there is something in it for us? Do we claim to be part of them, when the association promises a gift that keeps on giving?
Take some time to think about it. Where is your heart? Do we do only to be rewarded? Are we in it for the gift or are we truly committed? Would you be willing to associate even if the gift was not appealing to the rest of the world?
Now what are you willing to give in return? My mind will continue to wrap around this thought. I hope it has given you something to think about. Read the 117th section again. Is your heart in the right place? Do we all need to get over our littleness and ourselves?
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